Katie Robbins coined the term in a September 25, 2009 article in BlackBook reporting on rising tensions in New York neighborhoods between existing kebab and hot dog vendors and their new competition: social-media savvy entrepreneurs serving up cupcakes, schnitzel sandwiches, and Tahitian vanilla panna cotta (among other treats) from their high-end food trucks:

"In a city accustomed to gentrification, perhaps this new phenomenon could be described as “vendrification,” with more expensive, higher-tech carts and trucks sweeping in and shaking up the culinary terrain of the streets. Predictably, this shift has led to some tensions between the “traditional” vendors and the newer-style sellers, who often use heavily decorated trucks, rotating seasonal offerings, and regular Twitter tweets advertising their current whereabouts to draw in customers. For the kebab and hot dog vendors, who often stay in the same city-assigned location day after day, it becomes a question of market infringement."

Comments

Sep 30, 2009 2:17:12 PMPosted By: Christine

There is a whole section in Gourmet this month on street vendors and the foodies they attract.

Sep 30, 2009 10:39:26 PMPosted By: Carrie

In Washington, there's a company working with the traditional street vendors to sell them food - and more options for their customers. Visit www.metrocurean.com for more information - i was just reading about tonight!

In Washington, there's a company working with the traditional street vendors to sell them food - and more options for their customers. Visit www.metrocurean.com for more information - i was just reading about tonight!